The NDP is on the verge of becoming the Official Opposition in Nova Scotia as both the Liberals and its leader are being dealt a devastating blow on election night.
Global News has projected a second-majority government for Progressive Conservative (PC) Leader Tim Houston, who called a snap election despite first promising not to do so.
At the dissolution of the legislature last month, the PCs held 34 seats, the Liberals had 14 seats, the NDP held six and there was one independent member.
As of 10 p.m. Atlantic Tuesday, the PCs were elected or leading in 40 ridings, the NDP in 11 and the Liberals in two. One independent member – Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin – is projected to retain her seat in Cumberland North.
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Liberal Leader Zach Churchill was down in his own riding of Yarmouth. As of 10 p.m. Atlantic, PC candidate Nick Hilton was in the lead with 50 per cent of the vote. Churchill has 45 per cent of the vote with 35 out of 40 polls in the riding reporting.
Churchill was first elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly for Yarmouth in a by-election in 2010, and was re-elected in 2013, 2017, and 2021. He was elected leader of the party in 2022.
Meanwhile, Claudia Chender, leader of the Nova Scotia NDP, was projected elected in her riding of Dartmouth South.
Tuesday’s result for the Liberals is the worst for the party since 2006 when it secured just nine seats in the provincial election. After that election, the NDP formed the Official Opposition with 20 seats in the House; the PCs held 23 seats.
When Houston called the snap election last month, both of the province’s opposition leaders were critical of it, saying he broke his promise to adhere to a fixed election date.
Churchill and Chender were both leading their first provincial campaign since taking the reins of their parties. Chender was also elected NDP leader in 2022.
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